Contractor+ vs Joist (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Contractor+ if

• Fits if you are a small contractor who wants estimates and payments in one app
• Works for crews that want to start free and add users later

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you stay free, with 5 estimates or invoices a month
• Watch out: the vendor says all sales are final, with no refunds
• Pricey if you want Max, at $500 a month for unlimited users
• Watch out: the pricing page's meta description shows older figures ($49 and $98)

Pick Joist if

• Fits if you work alone and mostly need estimates, invoices and payments
• Works for part-timers who quote from a phone while standing in the client's kitchen

Look elsewhere if

• Too light for a crew of three that needs jobs handed out and tracked
• Tight if you send more than 5 documents a month on Basics, the $8.34 plan
• Watch out: Run's $58.33 is a 30% introductory price off $100 a month, with no end date given
• Pricey if you want an AI receptionist, a $49-a-month add-on, on top of payment processing fees
• Skip it if you want a free plan, as Joist dropped it and only the 14-day trial is left

Contractor+

• The vendor states all sales are final and it does not give refunds; cancellation is self-service.
• Pro Team includes the first 2 users; more users are $20 a month each on annual billing, $29 on monthly.
• The annual price is billed upfront in one invoice; the vendor says the page's savings run up to 40%.
• The pricing page's meta description still shows older figures ($49 and $98), which differ from the plans on the page.

Joist

• Basics allows only 5 documents a month; unlimited estimates and invoices start on Pro.
• Scheduling and job organization are only on Run, whose 30% introductory discount has no stated end date.
• The free plan has been discontinued; the 14-day trial is the only way to try it free.
• The AI Receptionist is a $49-a-month add-on, and Joist Payments charges standard processing fees.

Contractor+

Estimates, invoices and payments

Send estimates and invoices and collect card and ACH payments; the free plan allows 5 estimates or invoices a month.

CRM and sales pipeline

A basic CRM on every plan, with advanced CRM features and opportunity tracking on the paid plans.

Job costing and scheduling

Pro Team adds automated job costing and profitability tracking; the vendor describes a job schedule and team chat among its premium features.

Business phone and messaging

A business phone system on the paid plans (usage billed separately on monthly billing) and personal, group and client chats.

AI workflow builder

Max includes unlimited AI estimating and workflow runs; the product also lists a Big Chief AI assistant.

Joist

Estimates to invoices

Build estimates with line items and photos, then turn an approved estimate into an invoice in a few taps without retyping it.

Online payments and deposits

Clients pay online and you can request deposits; processing fees can be passed on to the client, and homeowner financing is offered on every plan.

Change orders and reports

Elite adds change orders, license and insurance details on documents, and business and sales reports.

Jobs and scheduling on Run

Run organizes work into jobs, schedules visits and links each job to its estimates, invoices and client.

Expenses and QuickBooks

Track expenses against jobs, see real-time reports, and sync with QuickBooks to keep the books current.

AI Receptionist add-on

For $49 a month, an AI receptionist answers missed calls while you work and records new leads for follow-up.

Contractor+

• Freedom$0

  Basic CRM for up to 250 leads and clients, and up to 5 estimates or invoices a month.

• Pro Team$58

  per month, billed annually ($98 billed monthly), first 2 users

  Job costing, phone system, chat, card and ACH payments, client portal, QuickBooks. Extra users $20 a month ($29 on monthly billing).

• Max$500

  per month, billed annually ($597 billed monthly), all users

  Unlimited team members, $75 a month of voice credit, unlimited AI use, Contractor+ Local, priority support and onboarding.

Joist

• Basics$8.34

  per month, billed annually ($10 billed monthly)

  $100 a year. Up to 5 documents a month, estimates to invoices, online payments, AI tools and homeowner financing.

• Pro$14.17

  per month, billed annually ($17 billed monthly)

  $170 a year. Unlimited documents and clients, your logo, line items with photos, client activity tracking and work orders.

• Elite$26.67

  per month, billed annually ($32 billed monthly)

  $320 a year. Adds license and insurance details, change orders, business and sales reports, Joist Reviews and social integrations.

• Run$58.33

  per month, billed annually ($70 billed monthly)

  Introductory price, 30% off a crossed-out $100 a month, with no end date given. Adds job organization and visit scheduling.

Contractor+

• Annual discount

  Save up to 40% with annual billing

  The pricing page's toggle shows Pro Team at $58 a month billed annually against $98 billed monthly, and labels the saving as up to 40%.

Joist

• Annual discount

  Two months free with annual billing

  Yearly billing costs $100 for Basics, $170 for Pro and $320 for Elite, against $10, $17 and $32 billed monthly.